(b)
Surface water. The
application shall include a description of the surface waters overlying the
permit area and adjacent area, including:
(1)
The size and depth of lakes, ponds and impoundments.
(2) The average annual flow of perennial
streams. For the purposes of this subchapter, perennial stream is a stream or
part of a stream that flows continuously throughout the calendar year as a
result of groundwater discharge or surface runoff. The term does not include
intermittent or ephemeral streams.
(3) The height, width and composition of
embankments.
(c)
Prior mining. The application shall provide the following
information relating to prior mining within, above or below the permit area:
(1) The type of mining, surface or
underground.
(2) Mine name, permit
numbers or other identification.
(3) The coal seams or other mineral strata
mined.
(4) The extent of the coal
or other minerals removed.
(5) The
location and elevation of impounded water in the mine workings either
overlying, below or within the permit area. If this information is not
available the applicant shall outline the efforts undertaken to obtain
it.
(d)
Subsidence control plan. The permit application must include a
subsidence control plan which describes the measures to be taken to control
subsidence effects from the proposed underground mining operations. The plan
must address the area in which structures, facilities or features may be
materially damaged by mine subsidence. At a minimum, the plan must address all
areas within a 30° angle of draw of underground mining operations which
will occur during the 5-year term of the permit. The subsidence control plan
must include the following information:
(1) A
description of the method of coal removal, such as longwall mining, room and
pillar mining, hydraulic mining or other extraction methods, including the
size, sequence and timing for the development of underground
workings.
(2) A narrative
describing whether subsidence, if it is likely to occur, could cause material
damage to or diminish the value or reasonably foreseeable use of any structures
or could contaminate, diminish or interrupt water supplies.
(3) For each structure and feature, or class
of structures and features, described in §
89.142a(c)
(relating to subsidence control: performance standards), a detailed description
of the measures to be taken to ensure that subsidence will not cause material
damage to, or reduce the reasonably foreseeable uses of the structures or
features.
(4) A description of the
anticipated effects of planned subsidence, if any.
(5) A description of the measures to be taken
to correct any subsidence-related material damage to the surface
land.
(6) A description of the
measures to be taken to prevent irreparable damage to the structures enumerated
in §
89.142a(f)(1)(iii)-(v),
if the structure owner does not consent to the damage.
(7) A description of the monitoring, if any,
the operator will perform to determine the occurrence and extent of subsidence
so that, when appropriate, other measures can be taken to prevent or reduce or
correct damage in accordance with § 89.142a(e) and (f).
(8) A description of the measures to be taken
to maximize mine stability and maintain the value and reasonably foreseeable
use of the surface land.
(9) For
EPACT structures other than noncommercial buildings protected under §
89.142a(c), a
description of the methods to be employed in areas of planned subsidence to
minimize damage or otherwise comply with § 89.142a(d)(1)(i).
(10) For EPACT structures other than
noncommercial buildings protected under §
89.142a(c), a
description of the subsidence control measures to be taken under §
89.142a(d)(1)(ii)
to prevent subsidence and subsidence-related damage in areas where underground
mining operations are not projected to result in planned subsidence.
(11) A description of the measures which will
be taken to maintain the value and foreseeable uses of perennial streams which
may be impacted by underground mining operations. The description shall include
a discussion of the effectiveness of the proposed measures as related to prior
underground mining operations under similar conditions.
(12) A description of the measures to be
taken to prevent material damage to perennial streams and aquifers which serve
as a significant source to a public water supply system.
(13) A description of utilities including
type, nature of use, composition and approximate age of pipelines, and a
description of the measures to be taken to minimize damage, destruction or
disruption in utility service in accordance with § 89.142a(g).
(14) A description of applicable measures to
be taken to control subsidence under other statutes, including:
(i) The act of December 22, 1959 (P. L. 1994,
No. 729) (52 P. S. §§
3101-3109).
(ii) The Oil and Gas Act (58 P. S.
§§
601.101-601.605).
(iii) Section 419 of the State Highway Law
(36
P. S. §
670-419).
(iv) Section 1 of the act of June 1, 1933 (P.
L. 1409, No. 296) (52 P. S. §
1501).
(15) Other information requested in
accordance with the policies and procedures of the
Department.